The Way of Cain (Ruling Over Sin (2))

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Glyn

We have now reached the division of time when God will divide his overcomers from those who believe but failed to overcome. How did they overcome? Although they acknowledged and mourned their bent toward sin because of their carnal nature, they did not allow sin to rule over them. They chose not the way of Cain, but ruled over sin instead.

Remember God’s words to Cain, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”  (Genesis 4:6-7 KJV) Later translations depersonalize sin with readings like “its desire” and “rule over it.” But consider The Schocken Bible’s translation of these verses:

YHWH said to Kayin: “Why are you upset? Why has your face fallen? Is it not thus: If you intend good, bear-it-aloft, but if you do not intend good, at the entrance is sin, a crouching-demon, toward you his lust– but you can rule over him.”

This corresponds to Peter’s understanding of Satan. He said,

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:8-10 KJV)

Satan spiritually roams this world as a roaring lion, a crouching demon, who attempts to devour us by the lusts he creates in our hearts. So, how do we stand against him? First, Peter says be “sober and vigilant.” The Greek word translated “sober” here seems to have the primary meaning of being watchful rather then in forbidding the drinking of alcohol.  But, of course, it is wise not to drink too much alcohol because that can make one less “watchful and vigilant” and could lead one into sin. Peter then tells us to steadfastly resist the devil “in the faith.” How do we do that?

First, take the thought captive to Christ. Tell our LORD that you do not desire the thought, nor do you wish to act upon it. Then “rebuke” the thought in Jesus’ Name. Move yourself away from the particular situation if an image or a person is causing the thought. Finally, refuse to make any type of plan whereby you might act upon the thought. James taught this by saying,

Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. (James 1:12-15 KJ2000)

First, James says, “blessed is the man who endures temptation.” What? Just a sentence or two later he says, “every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” So, does James then mean that a man is blessed when he is tempted by his own lust? Yes, he does, so long as the man endures it without sinning unto death. How does he do that? He refuses to let the lust “conceive.” He takes the lust captive to Christ, confessing his own sinful lust… “If you even look upon a woman with lust, you have committed adultery!” He acknowledges his sinful condition and expects, by faith, Christ to forgive him and bring him through the crisis of the temptation, whatever it is. He determines not to be as Cain was, he determines not to sin unto death.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1 John 3:10-12)

Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after unnatural lust, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise authority, and speak evil of the glorious ones. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil as he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke you. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude 1:7-11 KJ2000)

So, remember God’s words to Cain, ”And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”  (Genesis 4:6-7 KJV) Beloved, let us cast off every sin which entangles us. Let us confess our sins and repent before our brother, Jesus, who died for our sins. Let us rule over sin. James tells us that the man who endures temptation, that is, the one learns to rule over sin by taking every thought captive to Christ, receives the highest reward of all, the Crown of Life!

Posted in a perfect stone, Elohim, Gospel, image of God, Overcomers, practicing righteousness, repent | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Rod of Iron: Coming Soon

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Glyn

The following was written by Kenneth B. Vissher and may be found on his web site by clicking here.

PART #6
For The Lord Our God Is Holy – ADDENDUM

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. Romans 8:19-23

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor 15:13-22

So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Cor 15:42-49

For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 2 Cor 5:1-4

For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me. Job 19:25-27

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; [Yet] through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he? [As] the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. Job 14:7-15

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11
~***~
(3 Visions)
(1st Vision)
(*Note: The first vision is a continuation of the second vision listed in Part #5 ADDENDUM, the vision of the scrolls or Oracles of God found in the glorified bodies of the “changed” ones. Placed here is that vision from Part #5.
“I saw also that the Overcomers were given the holy mandate from the Throne to bear about in their glorified bodies the Oracles of the Lord as “scripts” or “texts” of Holy Governance. The Lord would move within the Overcomers and without the Overcomers to place in them His ordinances and laws according to His Holy Oracle. As each time frame of the next age unfolded, the Overcomers received this instruction in the form of a dispensation of a text or a scroll unfolded and displayed as a portion of Holy Government. So then as the Lord did unfold His purpose in the age that is dawning, so did the Overcomers have that holy governance openly displayed in their glorified bodies and all of creation, the nations, the cosmos itself, all could clearly read the Oracles of the Lord in the bodies of these now in the eternal glorified saints; even these that did overcome all things in Christ. At the same time as these scripts or texts did lay out the governance of the Lord, Angels in glory, multitudes of Angels, did minister unto the nations the grace and help they needed to obey these ordinances. The Angels comforted the nations while they obeyed the ordinances of the Lord through the Overcomers. The Angels themselves subjected themselves to the scripts and texts and ordinances found in the bodies of the Overcomers with great joy. As they submitted to these ordinances great songs of worship and praise ascended from the Angelic host unto God who did sit upon the Throne for the time of His promise to bring restitution to all creation had come and these did sing in worship for such a time. Such was the governance of the Lord that there was nothing in the world of men that could resist it, for it was a governance that was clearly displayed and seen and read in the new bodies of those whom the Lord had raised up to sit with Him upon His eternal Throne.”
(Now for the continuation of this vision in this Part #6 Addendum.)
“The Overcomers now in their spiritual bodies went forth bearing within them these scrolls and texts and Oracles of the Government of the Lord in the Kingdom of God. They went forth unto the nations of the earth during the next age to disassemble their governments and kingdoms and monarchies and all places where the rule of man had now come to full conclusion. The act of the Overcomers going forth with these scrolls and Oracles signaled the end of man’s dominion as to his politics and governments and laws and law enforcements and economies as the law of the Lord would now replace all else. The main Oracle was that the honor and glory of each nation would be purified and brought into the Kingdom of the Lord with the Lord being their replacement. His laws and ordinances and Oracles would now replace the decision making process of man’s laws which up until this time had ruled in the earth even though the Lord ruled in the affairs of men, this rule was now ended. The “free choice” that man had was replaced with “desire” for the government of the Lord. The company of Overcomers represented a multiplicity of this government as each one in their person was complete in resurrection power as was Jesus when He came forth from the tomb. These had the same authority and power as the risen Lord to execute the government of the Lord over all the nations of the earth. Free will was shattered by this powerful rod of iron; but desire for the Lord’s Oracle to keep their nations was much greater. The rulers of governments freely gave up their rule to the rulers of the Kingdom of the Lord, even the Overcomers who were now glorified in the midst of the earth.”
(End Vision)
(2nd Vision)
(The rod of iron. “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” Revelation 2:26-27. )
“The action and act of the rule of the rod of iron was immediate, there was no time frame for the rod of iron to be enacted, the actions and results of such were immediate without recourse for the nations shattered thereby. I saw the Overcomers go forth with a “singular” rod of iron in their unity. Any attempted action of any nation was immediately shattered and brought into the rule of the Kingdom of the Lord. Nothing was done any further in the rule of man, all was subjected to and brought into the Kingdom rule with this shattering of all that was contrary to that same rule by the same eternal Throne of the Lord. This was not to cause hurt and harm to the nations, but rather to heal them. For the fruit and end result of the rule of man had brought the world to the brink of extinction, it was only the rule of the Lord in His Kingdom that could rescue this creation from total destruction. The Overcomers went forth not as ambassadors of that Kingdom, but as they were “one” with the King of Kings Himself, their identity was so “one” with the risen Jesus that to see the Overcomers with the rod of iron and to see Jesus with rod of iron, both were the same in the eyesight of the nations of the earth. The rod of iron shattered to pieces anything that was in any sort of attempt outside of the rule of the Kingdom of God, nothing was left intact in the systems of man, all of the systems of man were utterly destroyed by the rod of iron in the hands of the Overcomers. The breaking of the nations, the cause and effect of the rule of the Kingdom of the Lord over the nations, all of it through the rod of iron was immediate. The only remaining factor left to the nations was “desire” for the Kingdom of the Lord to rule in the earth, for Christ to rule from Heaven over the lives of all men everywhere. Such was the power and the glory of the rule of the rod of iron. It was not a ruthless rule, but one which far surpassed and which was far better than all other rules and governments that man had before in previous dispensations.”
(End Vision)
(3rd Vision)
“It came upon a certain night when deep sleep was upon me that the Lord visited me and caught me up to behold Him, even in the highest place of Heaven in His everlasting Kingdom. This time He did take me up to behold a paved work and upon the paved work a great billowing fire; a fire which splayed outward then fell back in upon itself, so great was the fire and the heat of the fire that the paved work was molten under it due to the heat of this holy fire. As the fire splayed outward the heat of it was so intense that the cosmos itself liquefied before it, the stars fell out of place due to the heat of this holy fire. In the midst of the fire I beheld a Throne set and ONE who sat upon the Throne, even the Ancient of Days. Beside the Ancient of Days stood the Lamb of God in His glorified risen body. His body was of bone and flesh, skin and sinew yet it was at the very same time a spiritual body, a body that was once earthly made of the dust of the earth, but now through the process of death it was raised to everlasting life to never see corruption. This was the body of Jesus, even in pure spirit form at the right hand of the Father. He did wear a white garment with a royal purple sash from His left shoulder down along to the right side of His body. Upon His head were many crowns and His feet were as molten brass. The paved work under His feet was as molten brass. Holy was the sight of the risen Christ beside the Ancient of Days, so holy was this fire, so great the heat thereof, so mighty was His rule and power and authority over all creation. Jesus alone stood beside the Father with His Father’s name written upon His mind. So it was that I saw a flesh and bone body in a spiritual world in a spiritual form. Such is the will of the Ancient of Days, to consume the natural world into the spiritual world, to meld together both into one as is the body of Jesus. Both spirit and physical meet together in Him.”
(End Vision)
~***~
The Lord’s purpose in creating Adam in the garden of Eden was to have fellowship with him and to converse with him as a friend converses with a friend. God at that time desired that the communion between Himself and Adam would be unbroken, a fellowship that was not to be outside of any area of communion and love which would not suffer any lack at all. Yet God also designed that Adam would fall, hence the great mystery of the ages, why did God allow Adam to fall and to be found short of this fellowship which was in the original desire? All of creation was subjected by this fall to the curse of broken fellowship. Such a curse was not easily mended, not by Adam’s life afterwards nor by all the eons of time that have passed since, the giving of the law and ordinances, all to attempt to rectify this broken fellowship. It was God who made the rule of what Adam could and could not do in the garden. To keep Adam company, Eve was made out of one of Adam’s ribs so that they together could remain in this fellowship with God, in communion in the cool of the day. But both fell away because of their lack, because of their failed attempt at keeping the garden to dress it. So then all creation came under the same curse of their fall for broken fellowship.

The purpose of God was to make His natural creation and His spiritual creation into a melding of one creation, the natural taking on the spiritual and the spiritual taking on the natural. That which was temporary taking on that which was eternal so that no temporary existence remained in the natural creation. God’s purpose for that has never changed, it is still His purpose and it is exactly what He is working towards, to meld together into one the natural and the spiritual creations. When that happens in the future ages to come, all death will be banished, the fall will be non-existent and the area of the mind in recognizing life in this present world will be replaced with the mind of the Father in the eternal world. That is the final outworking of the purpose of God. That is the great mystery. That God would so differentiate at the first the natural fallen creation from the spiritual eternal world, and that the melding together of both of these worlds would be done by an act of His Holy Spirit, a working that the Lord alone would do. Nothing in the natural world and nothing in the spiritual world will be able to see that nothing short of God Himself did the melding together of both these opposing realms. The exciting thing about this is that God has chosen a people, a Royal Priesthood who will be doing this work of melding. The Overcomers are that people. Part of their work will be to meld into one the spiritual with the natural, such will be the power of God which will permeate all their being.

So God allowed the fall so that Overcomers could in time bring the fallen creation back into the spiritual creation and the spiritual creation back into the natural – but healed – fallen creation. As it is at this time the Overcomers are finished their courses, a bold statement of faith, but it is truth, all that is needed for a yielded people has been accomplished. Jesus has seen the travail of His soul in the life of the Overcomer and He is satisfied. There IS an end coming for us of the personal cross and of the trials of life, a great peace is to come to those whom God has deemed as His Overcomers.

Overcomers do not overcome just so that they can be separate from evil in the world or in the systems of man or man’s religion. Overcomers overcome so that they can conquer these systems and subject them to the Kingdom of God. Full power and authority will be given to those in glorified bodies to bring all of creation into full liberty and eternal life in the Kingdom of God EVEN in this natural creation. Theirs will be the right and honor to bring all that is distanced from God by the fall back into oneness with God in full fellowship unbroken eternally. Not only the love of God displayed through them, but God’s full government which they will bear so that this fellowship can become, for God Himself, a reality. God who is holy will make Himself Holy with ALL His creation, not just part of it. The fellowship He once desired with Adam He will have again when Adam himself is restored to this great deliverance. The Overcomers overcome in the seven churches so that they can consume the seven churches and bring them into God’s eternal church. The candlestick which has the person of the risen Jesus standing in the midst will illuminate this darkness till the darkness is no more; such will be the work of the Overcomers in this age that is dawning.

To the Overcomers will the rule of the Kingdom of God be given, these are the 144,000, the number of those who form the full bodied government of God. A number of individuals that only God Himself knows but who are His cabinet and power of Throne and rule. With that rule of the Kingdom will come complete power and authority to destroy utterly all the systems of men that have been conceived and maintained under this fallen curse. The order of life, the rule of law, all of it will come in subjection to something even better, the rule of His Kingdom. With a rod of iron these Overcomers shall rule and shall break to “shivers”, (pieces), all of man’s kingdoms and nations and governments and ruling authorities; all so that they can come without any fault into the Kingdom of His rule. It is not that God is angry with the rule of man, even if man’s rule is an ungodly rule, it is just that His rule is so far above the rule of man that His rule will overtake and consume all that has ruled men’s lives previous. It is a rule that will be accomplished by the mind of the Father thinking in the glorified bodies of the Overcomers and the minds of the Overcomers in unison thinking thoughts that the Father thinks with them. Their minds and their rule will be a convincing rule with no haste yet done in immediacy. No time frame between thoughts of governing rule shall they possess, it will be instant and eternal, such will be the perfect rule of the Overcomers IN the earth In His Kingdom.

Just as Jesus was a flesh and bone body now living in the spiritual world, so shall it be for the Overcomers, some raised from their graves, others alive and remaining, their flesh and bone bodies will take on spiritual fullness and the spiritual fullness will take on the physical body. In a glorified state as Jesus is now, so shall these be, bone, flesh, but spiritual and holy. Absent will be the mind of carnality which is the minding of flesh in the life of the world. Absent will be a heart distanced from fellowship with God. Instead a complete oneness with Christ will bring about the change in all this natural creation, this liberty will be for all creation, all nations, no one will be left out of it when the Overcomers are glorified. Each will enjoy the peaceable fruits of the Kingdom of God by the Overcomers new rule in the earth. The Overcomer as an individual will be able to walk in the highest heaven, sit upon the Throne with Christ, walk upon the earth and walk in the midst of the nations and walk with the spirits of the dead, all of this at the very same time. They will stand upon the earth before the nations and be seated with Christ upon the Throne and preach liberty to the dead all at the very same time. Such is the future work and call to those who will be glorified at His coming, those who are the government of God.

To be continued…….
Kenneth B Visscher

Posted in Ken Visscher, Overcomers, Prophecy, Restoration of All Things, Second Coming of Christ, the Order of Melchizedek | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jesus Is Coming!

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Glyn

Posted in Day of the Lord, Gospel, Prophecy, Second Coming of Christ | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Manna & Tribulation

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Glyn

Both my wife and my oldest daughter have prophetic gifting. They both see the things that I see in the Spirit (mainly dealing with the revelation of the Word) and sometimes even before I do. Just last weekend my daughter dreamed that manna covered her yard (which is within a half mile of our farm) and then she woke up. As I considered her dream this morning I felt the LORD would have me write this post.

Many Christians see the great tribulation approaching, even on our doorstep. Some believe it will last seven years after the pattern of Joseph’s seven years of famine. I believe that it will last 3 1/2 years according to the Books of Daniel and Revelation which describe it in terms of “a time, times, and half a time,” “1260 days,” and “42 months.” Some believe that Christians ought to store up food for this terrible time, again according to the pattern of Joseph’s years of plenty and famine. I do not. Christians do not need to store anything for this coming time, and it is not because they are going to be raptured before it happens. Only the firstfruits manchild of Revelation 12 will be glorified before the tribulation. They are the only Christians ready; the rest still have to buy oil from those who sell according to Matthew 25. They will not be ready in time, for they are just now waking up.

Jesus always taught in parables and this includes all of the historical accounts written in the Bible. Most of the narratives relate historically accurate facts as well as prophetically predict future events. Joseph, for example, fulfilled a type of God’s overcomer. Although in the world he was not of the world. He did not succumb to lusts of the flesh and he suffered for it. According to the Biblical record Joseph was perfect. This is not because he was actually perfect during his natural life. It is because he fulfilled the saying of Jesus, “Be perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Every overcomer desires this perfection even though he fails in this flesh and mourns his still carnal position.

The number seven in the Bible means “complete.” God always uses the number seven to illustrate that the particular matter spoken of is now complete, or finished. Thus he created the earth in a complete week of seven days including the Sabbath day of rest. This pattern continues for man’s allotted time on earth. He has been given six one thousand year days and God will bring a Sabbath rest in the seventh thousand year period.  In Leviticus 4 we see the priest sprinkle the blood seven times before the vail. In Leviticus 8 he sprinkles the blood seven times to anoint the altar. In Leviticus 26 God warns Israel that he will punish them seven times for their sins. In Joshua 6 we see seven priests bearing seven trumpets walk around Jericho seven times. Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” And there are many more examples.

Similarly Joseph’s seven years of plenty and seven years of famine point to complete prophetic realities. Joseph did collect and store food for seven years and he did sell food for seven years after that, but the point of the story is not that there will be some future seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. The point is that Joseph completely filled his storehouse in heaven. Consider what Jesus taught us about storing.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:16-21 KJV)

Many people, including Christians, counsel us to buy guns and food to prepare for the horrible times coming on the world. I don’t believe that Jesus would buy or wear a gun and I don’t think he would dig a cellar to store grain like Joseph did. No, the parable of Joseph means that Joseph stored up treasures toward God in a complete way so that he would have abundance with respect to all things necessary, especially heavenly things. He represents the overcomer who has stored up treasure in heaven and who will be able to withdraw from his treasury as others, including himself, have need of it.

If I store thousands of dollars worth of grain and food on my farm, then I can be assured that when tribulation comes one of three things will happen: 1) I will give it away to those who have need besides myself; 2) People who learn I have food will come and steal it by force; or 3) the beast government will confiscate it. If I have no extra food, however, there is nothing to steal or confiscate. But, since I have treasure in heaven, I can pray for and expect to receive my daily manna. I will have enough for myself, my family, and to share with those whom God brings!

Tribulation is coming. Be sure your treasure is stored in heaven and not on earth.

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I Do Not Judge You

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Glyn

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “(BT)He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 (BU)He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 (BV)I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for (BW)I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 (BX)He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; (BY)the word I spoke is what will judge him at (BZ)the last day. 49 (CA)For I did not speak [s]on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me (CB)has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that (CC)His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak (CD)just as the Father has told Me.” (John 12:44-50)

Christians, and I include myself, have a long history of judging others when we should not judge. Can you think of anyone with more authority to judge others than Jesus the Messiah? And yet Jesus, as a rule, did not judge others. Rather than judging people by his own mind, by his own judgment, he said, “The word I spoke is what will judge him on the last day.” May we understand what this means.

Some will want to argue with me right away pointing out that Jesus did in fact judge other people during his short ministry. And, I will agree. But, consider who he did judge. He judged the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious leaders of his time. These were the rulers of the synagogues and the temple itself in the nation of Judah. They would be akin to the pastors or elders who rule in your particular church. In this particular passage, John 12:44-50, Jesus spoke to the general population of Judah who came out to see and hear him the very week their religious leaders crucified him. Jesus spoke the word of God to them, a word which warned them of God’s expectations, but he encouraged them by telling them that he himself did not judge them. Yet, he warned them that the word he spoke to them would indeed one day judge them! What is the difference?

The difference is timing. Jesus gives us his word so that we can respond to it. We can accept it or reject it. We can love it or hate it. We can do it or despise and neglect it. If we love it, but cannot yet do it, we can ask for power and grace to accomplish it. We can accept the fact that we will one day be judged by it, repent of our failings, and depend upon our mediator, Jesus, to make it right for us somehow.

Instead, though, Christians have a long history of judging every other person or group of people except for themselves or the particular group of people they fellowship with. Every church I ever belonged to taught and thought that we were the best representation of God’s truth on earth. We may not have consigned every other church or heathen to hell as some churches are wont to do, but we certainly thought “our church” was better than “their church!” We judged others according to our own doctrines, our own ideas of right and wrong, instead of God’s. We did not believe or understand that God’s word is the ultimate judge, not us.

For example, I still remember a brother from a church who did not believe you could play instruments in worship tell me that he did not necessarily think that he and I were Christian brothers when we were attending the same Christian college back in 1977 or 1978. I remember internally shaking my head in disbelief at his words, but I was too young a Christian to really understand what his judgment meant. He meant, in essence, “If you do not believe the same doctrines as I do about Christ and Christian worship, then you cannot be saved.” This is heresy to the nth degree. I will now tell you something that may shock you.  It is this, your doctrine will never save you!

Salvation, in essence, does not hinge upon one believing the right doctrines about Jesus. It does not even depend upon knowing Jesus’ right name. Some call him Yeshua. Some call him God. Some do not even know yet that he died for their sins and intercedes for them before the Father. Every culture and language has their own name for him. To some people he has revealed himself as their savior and the son of God; to others he has not. But two things are certain: 1) his words will judge each of us on the last day, and 2) no one will come to the Father (God) unless we come through Jesus Christ.

So, what is my point? Judge nothing before its time. Learn God’s word and do it to the best of your ability. But, do not think that you are the sole arbiter of truth. Who are you to judge your brother, your fellow servant of God, even if he does not yet call himself a Christian? Yes, you have to make decisions based upon your beliefs and yes, you have to learn to discern spirits so that you do not follow the doctrines of demons. You even have to decide when and when not to support various ministries based upon their ability to hear God and walk in his ways. You may even have to decide to leave a church whose leaders will not obey God. You might even be called to confront or publicly denounce a pastor’s, prophet’s, or teacher’s heresy or expose their sin if others are endangered by them. Paul tells us that “the spiritual man judges all things.”

But, James warns us saying, “11 (A)Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.[a] The one who speaks against a brother or (B)judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only(C)one lawgiver and (D)judge, he who is able to save and (E)to destroy. But (F)who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12, ESV)

That’s a good question, who do we think we are?

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Are You Now Being Perfected by the Flesh?

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Glyn

2 Let me ask you only this: (A)Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by (B)hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish?(C)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a]the flesh? 4 (D)Did you suffer[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? (Gal. 3:2-4, ESV)

With respect to our final approval or disapproval by God can it get any simpler than this statement by Paul? Who is responsible for your initial faith and thus for your salvation in Jesus Christ? You or God? If you believe that you are a great person who because of your greatness sought out and believed upon Jesus all on your own, then you might believe that your salvation rests upon your own shoulders. But, I doubt that many of you think that. I know that I can still look back thirty-five years to a young man barely twenty-one years old who was about to cast everything away for a life of sin when I began to feel a longing inside for “truth.” Shortly thereafter God put the “New English Bible” in my path along with the thought, “I have always heard that the truth is in this book. Why don’t I just buy this, read it, and see if it is.” Within three months, and in a story I have told before, God revealed to me that he wrote the Bible and that indeed the truth did reside in that book. He further showed me that his truth had a name and that his name was Jesus Christ. I then believed in Jesus, determined that I had better start doing what he said, and was baptized in water as I made that confession of faith.

During those three months while I first read the Scriptures God’s Spirit slowly, but surely, convicted me of sin. I was not convicting myself; my flesh did not say, “Flesh, you are bad and sinful.” No, the LORD began to say through his word, “The things you are doing in your flesh are bad and you need to stop doing those things and obey me instead.” When I finally realized that Jesus was in fact the God of the Bible, when I came to faith in him, suddenly I had both the conviction that my sinful behavior was wrong and the power to stop doing those things. Those two things did not come through my flesh, they came by the Spirit of God. Thus I received the Spirit of God by “hearing with faith.” The first time that I “heard with faith” was when I realized by reading the Bible that God wrote the Bible (through men). Simultaneously, as I came to this understanding, God spoke to me in a voice which seemed audible (yet I believe it was within me), “That’s right, Glenn, and I want you to teach my word.” Since then, the spring of 1977, it has been a struggle to understand and follow the leading of the Spirit versus the leading of my own flesh.

At this time in our spiritual journey the LORD communicates to us through our “flesh,” through our minds (souls) which are housed in these temporary bodies of dust. We also each possess a spirit and if we have believed in Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, then our own particular spirit has been “quickened” or “born again.” This occurs when we first hear the Word with faith. If we do not believe in Jesus then our spirit remains dead. This is what Jesus meant when he spoke to Nicodemus.

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named (A)Nicodemus, a (B)ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “(C)Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these [a](D)signs that You do unless (E)God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him,“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one (F)is born [b]again he cannot see (G)the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of (H)water and the Spirit he cannot enter into(I)the kingdom of God. 6 (J)That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [c]again.’ 8 (K)The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8, NASB)

To be “born of water and the Spirit” means that Holy Spirit has breathed upon the word God has spoken to a person individually resulting in a new spiritual life within that person. This must happen to each person before he or she can ever enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul makes it clear to the Galatians that this process of entering the Kingdom of Heaven begins and ends with the Spirit. None of us can pummel our bodies hard enough to earn entrance into that kingdom. Particular good works neither earn our initial salvation nor gain our entrance into the Kingdom of God.

On the other hand Jesus, Paul, and every other prophet testifies that if we do not have good works, then we will not enter the Kingdom. James especially makes this clear. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Likewise, out of the abundance of the heart (the Word and the Spirit) the body acts. Examine yourself. Do you see your body perform good or evil works? If you are caught up in evil, then read God’s Bible and ask him to reveal himself to you. When he does, then respond to that revelation and do what he tells you. This will be your first step toward salvation and God’s kingdom. With each step of faith you take you heart will change so that eventually you will find that your flesh does the good things that reside in your heart.

I write this today because many people walk insecurely with God. They believe they cannot succeed with him because they still do sinful things. But know this, none of has yet been perfected in our flesh because none of us has yet been glorified. Do you mourn about your still sinful flesh and wish that you were perfect? Then be encouraged for God will comfort you. Do you consider yourself poor in spirit? Then rejoice for you accurately see yourself; yours will be the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you meekly submit to wrongs against you without fighting for your “rights?” Be glad! for you shall inherit the earth. Do you hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness, longing to be filled with his holiness? Then know that you will one day be filled to overflowing with all these good things. Rejoice, I say, because you are being perfected by the Holy Spirit himself!

 

Posted in Elohim, Flesh, Holy Spirit, truth | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fear God & Keep His Commandments

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Glyn

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Today we live in a desperate time. Man’s institutions are failing everywhere and yet he tries to hold onto power by cowing the people into fear through police state tactics. On the other hand self-proclaimed prophets pronounce doom at every turn and infer that if we do not listen to them then we will not be considered among God’s elect. Balderdash!

Jesus makes things simple for those who will approach him as a child, forsaking their jealous conceits for their own fame and their multitude of hypocrisies.  The Pharisees could not accept him because they were interested more in their selfish glory than in God’s truth. I submit to you that one precept, and one alone, will free us from the cacophony of voices which attempt to beguile us. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

That which I call “the grace heresy” within the church has, to almost a universal extent, prevented believers in Christ from both fearing him and from obeying him. They took the doctrine of grace and turned it into a license to sin while, at the same time, they began to call Jesus their best friend or their lover. I can tell you by abiding in Jesus’ word for 35 years that he is not the “best friend” of those who practice lawlessness, and he by no means counts himself the “lover” of those who do licentiousness.

The teacher in Ecclesiastes tells us that our first duty toward God is to fear him. Jesus told us the same thing. He said, “fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 KJV) The men of this world can kill our bodies and they use this fear of death to corral us into their molds. Jesus warned us not to fear them; they cannot destroy our souls.  Fear God instead. But, what is the fear of God? I can’t see him; can you? I can’t hear him; can you?

Wait, actually I can both see and hear God. When I look into the clear blue sky I see God’s lovely creation. When I smell the blossoming rose or the purple iris I breathe God’s creation. When I hear the wind blow through the leaves of the trees I hear God’s Spirit breathing upon the earth. When I go to the clear, flowing Current River and its tributary springs I see, hear, and smell God’s lovely works. When I abide in Christ’s word by reading the Bible I hear God’s voice. When I hear God’s voice I suddenly have faith that what he says is true and then I also know, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”  (Psalms 111:10 KJV)

So again, what does it mean to fear God? I think Isaiah gives us a good idea in chapter 33 of his book.

Woe to you that plunder, and you were not plundered; and deal treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with you! when you shall cease to plunder, you shall be plundered; and when you shall make an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with you. O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for you: be their [our] arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of yourself the nations were scattered. And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them. The LORD is exalted; for he dwells on high: he has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Behold, their valiant ones shall cry outside: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceases: he has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, he regards no man. The earth mourns and languishes: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. Now will I rise, says the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself. You shall conceive chaff, you shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you. And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire. Hear, you that are afar off, what I have done; and, you that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that keeps his hands from the holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the fortresses of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. Your heart shall meditate the terror. Where is the scribe? where is the one who weighs? where is he that counts the towers? You shall not see a fierce people, a people of a more obscure speech than you can perceive; of a stammering tongue, that you can not understand. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, neither shall any of its cords be broken. But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; in which shall go no galley with oars, neither shall majestic ships pass by. For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. Your tackle are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great plunder divided; the lame take the prey. And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell in it shall be forgiven their iniquity. (Isaiah 33:1-24 KJ2000)

This passage distinguishes between those who steal and act treacherously versus those who wait upon the LORD.  Isaiah then defines the fear of the LORD by telling us that this fear is his treasure. This means that the fear of the LORD equals God’s treasure. What is God’s treasure? Just as men do, so does God fill his house with his treasure. In the above passage God calls his house Zion. The Book of Revelation calls it New Jerusalem. Hebrews tells us that we are his house. Isaiah tells us above in verse 5 that God fills his house with justice and righteousness. Solomon teaches that “the fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13 KJV)

Thus to fear God is to love justice and righteousness. The terms justice and righteousness define all of God’s ways. When we love his ways, then we make those ways part of our lives; his ways become our treasures. When we treasure God’s ways, then we keep his commandments because those very precepts have become part of our nature. Therefore if you love justice and righteousness, then you do fear God. You will be one of those who help restore the foundations when God decrees the time, and that time is near. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man!

 

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Second Passover: The Hidden Feast

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Glyn

The Bible’s only recorded observance of Second Passover occurs in 2 Chronicles 29 and 30, so this will establish the pattern we should expect to see one day prophetically fulfilled with respect to this holy day. God’s first Passover had long been forgotten by Israel, just as Passover was forgotten by the Church and replaced with “Easter” which was named after the demonic god Ishtar. I know that I had been a dedicated Christian for 20 years before I finally understood Passover in 1997. It was never taught in any of the charismatic or denominational churches I attended, but as I read my Bible the lights finally came on in 1997 with respect to its profound meaning.

The Church’s status is similar, I believe, to that of the Israelites in Hezekiah’s day. History shows that most Christians failed to walk in the ways of their God just as Israel did before them. Whereas Israel followed their own laws and practices, and disregarded God’s laws, so the Church turned the grace of Jesus into a license to sin and followed their own doctrines of demons. And so we see that God is about to do again what he did in Hezekiah’s day.

In 2 Chronicles 29-30 God anoints Hezekiah to serve as prophet, priest, and king. In 29:1 we see Hezekiah becoming king at age 25. In 29:5-11 we see him prophetically command the priests and the Levites to sanctify themselves and the house of the LORD God. In 30:18-19 he functions as priest when he prays for the plague-stricken people who partook of the Passover lamb in uncleanness and lack of sanctification. These Israelites correspond to the multitudes of Christians today who take the LORD’s name in vain by ascribing their vain works to the name of Christ and who hold the truth in unrighteousness (they believe in Jesus as Savior, but they applaud, partake of, or do not condemn works of evil, especially sexual immorality).

I have long thought that the birthing of the sons of God might occur on the day of the offering of firstfruits of the Second Passover of some year. Many people have speculated that the “rapture” will occur in this year of 2012. I do not think that the first resurrection (the rapture) will occur this year, but I do believe the year may witness the birthing of the manchild as depicted in Revelation 12. This year Second Passover begins one week from today, on Sunday May 6. The second Feast of Unleavened Bread will continue for seven days after that. Hezekiah’s works described in 2 Chronicles emulate King David who, at various times, also acted in the three roles of prophet, priest, and king. Both kings prophetically picture those who will serve in God’s kingdom after the Order of Melchizedek.  They are the remnant, the overcomers, the sons of God.

It will be the birthing of the manchild which signals the final great tribulation for mankind. During this tribulation these overcomers will protect, lead, and encourage the saints remaining on the earth. These saints make up “the woman” of Revelation 12:6 who flees to the wilderness during the tribulation. There the now immortal overcomers feed her, both spiritually and naturally, for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Although this will be a time of great tribulation it will also be a time of great revival for the church, the woman, who was not chosen as a firstfruits offering to God (the manchild). The woman herself could not be chosen because, like the priests and Levites of Hezekiah’s day, she did not sanctify herself in a timely manner in order to partake of Passover. She had not consecrated her life in holiness to God. Instead she called those who preached God’s righteousness “legalistic.” But now they will return to God (repent) through those they once called legalistic, just as Judah and Israel returned to God through the ministry of Hezekiah.

The glorified sons of God will lead Christians remaining through the tribulation into the ways of God. Their hearts now will be prepared to hear the word of truth and they will accept God’s word in humility and gladness. They will sanctify themselves. They will repent of their sins. God will send revival among them and they will see miracles they have never seen. In fact the two week celebration of Hezekiah’s Second Passover, versus only one week in the traditional Passover, prophesies of a double anointing to come upon the woman during the tribulation. This anointing will be similar to that which came upon Elisha after Elijah’s “rapture” experience. And even though the times are fraught with fear and danger these saints will sing and dance before the LORD, just as they did in Hezekiah’s time. These are the saints who take part in the first resurrection which occurs at the end of the three and one half year tribulation period.

Yes, the prophet, priest, and king known as Hezekiah led an apostate, carnal people back to the living God at a time of their greatest danger, at the time when Assyria was destroying the Northern Kingdom of Israel and threatening to do the same to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.  So shall it be at that designated Second Passover when God reveals the sons of God and brings this age to a close, for this is the time when Satan once again threatens to destroy all of God’s people from the face of the earth.

Posted in a perfect stone, Biblical Feasts, Bride of Christ, Day of the Lord, Elohim, Overcomers, Prophecy, Sons of God, the Order of Melchizedek, The Teaching About Righteousness, Tribulation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Food Sacrificed to Satan

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Glyn

Two doctrines remain totally unknown to most of God’s church. The first is the Biblical teaching of becoming conformed to God’s perfect image after we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. Click this to read a recent study of that topic. The second unknown doctrine is that which the Bible calls “food sacrificed to idols,” and which I call “food sacrificed to Satan” in this article, for the Word teaches us that all sacrifices we make to idols are really sacrifices to Satan and his demons.

This is not a new or even only a New Testament doctrine. In fact, like all important doctrines, God reveals the seed of its truth in the Book of Genesis. He begins the revelation within his curse upon the Serpent who deceived Eve into eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

 13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.  14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. 15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Do you see it? God told Satan that henceforth he would “eat dust” all the days of his life. The word translated “dust” comes from the Hebrew word ‘aphar. The well-known principle of “first mention” is a great key to understanding God’s Word and we see that this Hebrew word ‘aphar first appears in Genesis 2:7.  There the Bible reads, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  (Genesis 2:7 KJV)

We might be tempted to think that God sacrificed the first food to Satan, and that that sacrifice was all of mankind beginning with Adam and Eve themselves, but that would be wrong. He did not offer Adam and Eve to Satan to eat. He pronounced judgment upon him stating that as a matter of fact Satan would eat dust (mankind) all the days of his life.

Peter takes up this theme when he says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour [seeking the dust he may eat].” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV) From the beginning, even before man sinned, God appointed Satan as man’s adversary. Thus he lured and tempted Eve into sin. This war between the devil and man continues to the very end. John says concerning this, ”And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven [fallen angels], and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon [Satan, the devil] stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child [to eat dust] as soon as it was born.“(Revelation 12:4 KJV)

No, God did not sacrifice mankind to Satan. He established a paradigm at the very beginning within which man could become one with his Creator. This perfect oneness which Jesus described and exemplified comes into being when man, each one (each human spirit) in his own time, matures into the full and complete image of God. This does not automatically occur when a person “believes” in Jesus or comes to what we call “saving faith.” John says that this event only brings us the “power” to then go on into this perfect union. He said, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.“ (John 1:12 KJV)

In a mystery this paradigm relates to food. Understanding it explains why the food sacrifices and actually eating those sacrifices comprised so much Old Testament law. It explains why Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1 KJV) The paradigm also explains what Paul meant when he said, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19 KJV) No, God did not offer man as a sacrifice to Satan. He established the paradigm in which man must choose to either offer himself as food to Satan or food to God. If he offers himself to Satan and does his works, then all his works will be destroyed and he himself will be thrown into the Lake of Fire wherein his soul may be finally purified. If, however, he offers himself as a living sacrifice to God, then he will one day actually become a son of God, one of and with Elohim himself.

 

Posted in a perfect stone, Elohim, Faith, food sacrificed to idols, Gospel, image of God, New Jerusalem, Overcomers, Prophecy, Sons of God, The Law, the Order of Melchizedek, The Separation, The Teaching About Righteousness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Be Strong & Fear Not! (Conformed to God’s Image (15))

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Glyn

Hebrews 12 makes it clear that God disciplines and afflicts all of his children. The comments people sent to my last post testify to this testing and affliction and it differs for each one. When I consider the testings given to Emily and Ken, for example, they seem to be more than I could bear, yet God used those afflictions to bless them abundantly. The next verse in Hebrews takes us a step further, the step of embracing and fearing not God’s dealings.

12 Therefore (T)lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and (U)make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint (V)but rather be healed.   (Hebrews 12:12-13 ESV)

I usually read from the English Standard Version of the Bible. I find it to be an excellent translation in most cases with wonderful cross references. The references here absolutely astounded me because I did not remember that this passage actually quoted the prophet Isaiah. Nor did I remember the dialogue from Job it mentions. Let’s consider that first.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    Yet who can keep from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many,
    and you have (A)strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
    and you have (B)made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
    it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 (C)Is not your fear of God[a] your (D)confidence,
    and the integrity of your ways your hope? (Job 4:1-6)

I confess that after five weeks of this gout attack I was beginning to get pretty cranky and even considered getting mad at God for not healing me. Then I found this passage from Job. Eliphaz’s first words hit me like a brick, “Will you be impatient?” And I considered, what was my physical affliction compared to Job’s? So, I continued reading. Yes, that sounds like it applies to me, I thought. I have tried to do those things. And then, “But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.” Yes, I was impatient! Yes, I was dismayed! You nailed me, Eliphaz! And then he answered, “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” Yes, I said, you’re right. God is my confidence. I do fear him. I have tried to walk in his ways. I do hope in his promises and his faithfulness!

This little dialogue between myself and the Word of God did not bring healing to my bones, but it brought peace to my soul. Then I went to the next reference the English Standard Version gave. This Hebrews quote comes directly from this passage and when I read I was blown away because it deals exactly with the times in which we live. The quote comes from Isaiah 35:3, but we should read the entire chapter to understand.

(A)The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    (B)the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
(C)The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of (D)Carmel and (E)Sharon.
(F)They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

3 (G)Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
(H)Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

5 (I)Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 (J)then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
(K)For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
7 (L)the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of (M)jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 (N)And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
(O)the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[a]
9 No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 (P)And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
(Q)everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

We live in the time, the very time, when men’s hearts will begin to melt with fear by what is coming upon the earth. Soon the people of the earth will see and experience unheard of catastrophic events. Soon they will see en mass the physical manifestation of Satan and his minions who, I believe, will attempt to deceive people into believing that they are mankind’s saviors who come from other worlds. We live in the time of the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies and those who have not prepared for these days, nor have watched for their coming, will be shocked out of their senses. But, God has prepared a remnant who know what is coming and it is to them that he says, “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!” 

Now I didn’t just have peace in the midst of my affliction; now my affliction actually had purpose! I could see that God was using this to prepare me for that which soon comes. Therefore, let us remember, consider, and praise him for his faithfulness toward us and toward those that he calls us to help and to strengthen. Let us take our eyes off of our infirmities and set them with plaited (3-fold) vision upon him, the author of our souls. Strength does not come through the power of our flesh, and we do not war against flesh and blood. Let us remember with Paul,

8 (M)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this [for example, to take away my gout], that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, (N)“My grace is sufficient for you, for (O)my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that (P)the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 (Q)For the sake of Christ, then, (R)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For (S)when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

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